Foul indicator for basketball games



Jan. 31, 1967 w. H. LAUGHLIN FOUL INDICATOR FOR BASKETBALL GAMES Filed June 12, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.2

Warren H. Laugh/in I N VENTOK Jan. 31, 1967 Filed June 12, 1964 GAMES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 6 64 Warren H Laugh/in 38 38 IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent M 3 302,192 FOUL INDICATOR FOR BASKETBALL GAMES Warren H. Laughlin, Box 532, Geneseo, Kans. 67444 Filed June 12, 1964, Ser. No. 374,654 7 Claims. (Cl. 340323) This invention relates to a novel and useful foul indicator and more specifically to a foul indicator designed to assist the ofiicials and spectators as well as the team players during a basketball game. The tfoul indicator includes means for rendering a Visual indication whenever a foul is committed, means for indicating the total number of fouls which have been committed by the players in a basketball game each time a player commits a foul and means for indicating to which team a player belongs when a foul is committed.

In a basketball game the two team benches are usually disposed along one side line of the basketball court with the offici-als and time keepers desk or area disposed between the two team benches. The foul indicator of the instant invention includes a pylon type unit having a first illuminated portion for indicating when a foul is committed and five additional illuminated portions for indicating total number of fouls committed by each player that commits a foul after the foul has been committed.

Still further, the foul indicator of the instant invention includes two additional indicators which may be illuminated and which are adapted to be centrally located at the time keeper or score keepers desk and to indicate such information as to which team has called time out or which team is awarded the bonus free-throw or one plus one situation. In this manner, any ofiicial on the playing court may readily ascertain which team is en title-d to a bonus or one plus one free-throw without going to the official timer and scorer bench for such information. This also aids the official in keeping account of each teams time out. In addition, the spectators at a basketball game may also be visually informed of the [foregoing information. This feature is optional.

The main object of this invention is to provide electrically lactuatable illumination means for indicating when a foul is committed during a basketball game, the total number of fouls which have been committed by the player who has just committed a foul, and the identity of the team to which the player belongs.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a foul indicator including control means for electrically actuating the illumination means of the foul indicator from a remote position.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a foul indicator including extension cord means for readily and removably electrically connecting the foul indicator with a suitable source of electrical potential such as a conventional utility outlet.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a foul indicator in accordance with the ureceding objections which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the foul indicator of the instant invention shown with a portion of the support Patented Jan. 31, 1967 standard for one set of the electrically actuatable illumination means broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of readily enga-geable and disengageable connector plug assemblies of the conductor means by which the illumination means and control means may be electrically connected with a suitable source of electrical potential;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatical view of the electrical circuit of the foul indicator of the instant invention; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a slightly modified form of one portion of the foul indicator.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the foul indicator of the instant invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and includes a foul indicating unit generally referred to by reference numeral 12 which defines a housing including two pairs of opposite upstanding side walls 14 and 16. The unit 10 also includes four angle corner braces 18 and top and bottom walls 20 and 22 in addition to five intermediate horizontally disposed partitions or Walls 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32. The top and bottom walls 20 and 22 as Well as the intermediate bafiies 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 are disposed in vertically spaced relation and the pairs of opposite side walls 14 and 16 are secured to the walls 20 and 22 and the partitions 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 by means of suitable fasteners 34.

The corner angles 18 are secured in overlying relation to the adjacent upstanding edge portions of the upstanding side Walls 14 and 16 in any convenient manner and it may be seen that each of the side walls or panels 14 and 16 includes a lowermost cut-out portion 36 which is in registry with the area disposed between bottom wall 22 and the partition 32. Further, the panels 14 and 16 each also include cut-out portions 38, 40, 42, 44 and 46 which are aligned with the areas disposed between the partitions 30 and 32, the partitions 28 and 30, the partitions 26 and 28, the partitions 24 and 26, and the top wall 20 and the partition 24, respectively. Illuminating means in the form of an electric bulb 50 is supported in registry with the cut-out portions 36 while 4311 electric bulb 52 is supported from the partition 32 in registry with the cutout portions 38. Still further, a plurality of electric bulbs 54 are supported from the partitions 30, 28, 26' and 24 in registry with the cut-out portions 40, 42, 44 and 46, respectively. Finally, an electric bell assembly 56 is supported from the top of the top Wall 20 and it may be seen that conductor means in the form of a trunk line 58 is provided in the housing or unit 12 for electrically connecting the bulbs 50, 52 and 54 :as well as the bell 56 with a suitable source of electrical potential in a manner to be hereinafter more specifically set forth.

In FIGURE 6 of the drawings there may be seen a modified for-m of housing corresponding to the housing 12 and generally designated by the reference numeral 60. The housing 60 is substantially identical to the housing 12 with the exception that the electrical bell assembly 56 is supported from the bottom wall 22 thereof and that the top wall of the housing 60 has an anchor fitting 62 secured thereto adapting the housing 60 to be supported from the lower end of a depending tube 64. The housings 12, on the other hand, has the fitting 62 supported from its bottom wall 22 and is therefore adapted to be supported from the upper end of an upstanding tube 66 corresponding to the tube 64 through which the trunk 3 line 58 extends. It is to be noted that the trunk line for the housing 60 corresponds to the trunk line 58 of the housing 12 passing through the tube 64.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG- URE 1 and 2 of the drawings, it may be seen that the trunk line 5% is flexible and that it extends to one connector p-lug assembly '70. Coresponding ends of a pair of extension cords 72 and 74 also extend to the connector plug assembly 70 while the other pair of ends of the extension cords 72 and '74 extend to small housings 76 and 78 having cut-out portions 80 and 82, respectively, formed therein. The extension cords 7t) and 72 are electrically connected to suitable illumination means 84 and 86, respectively, disposed within the housings 76 and 78 and in registry with the cut-out portions 80 and 82, respectively.

A third flexible extension cord 88 is provided with a. male plug member 90 on one end which is releasably engageable with a conventional form of a source of electrical potential such as the wall outlet 92, and the end of the flexible extension cord 88 remote from the plug 590 extends to the connector plug assembly d4. Still further, a second trunk line 96 has one end which extends to a control housing 9% and the other end thereof also extends to the connector plug assembly 94. It is to be noted that the connector plug assemblies 70 and 94, when operatively engaged with each other in the usual manner, will electrically connect the control assembly housing 98 with the source of electrical potential 92 and the illuminating means disposed within the housings 12, 7 6 and 7 8.

With attention now directed more specifically to FIG- URE S of the drawings it may be seen that the extension cord 88 comprises a pair of electrical conductors 1% and 102. The conductors 104 and 102 comprise main conductors between which conductors 103-111 are electrically connected, the lamps 84, 86, 50, 52, 54 and the bell assembly 56 being serially connected in the conductors 103411, respectively. In addition, the switches 115- 121 being also serially connected in the conductors 103- 109 and the double-pole switch 122 being serially connected in the conductors and 111. In this manner, the switches 115121 and the double-pole switch 122 may be utilized to selectively electrically actuate the bulbs 84, 86, 50, 52, 54 and the bell 56.

Although the trunk lines 58 and 96 as well as the extension cords 72, 741 and 558 are all not illustrated in FIGURE 5 of the drawings it is to be understood that the various electrical components of the foul indicator 10 are electrically connected as illustrated in FIGURE 5 of the drawings but that for practical reasons the various trunk lines and extension cords will be utilized.

In operation, after the indicator 10 has been connected to the source of electrical potential 92, the switch 117 is closed each time a foul is committed and the appropriate switch of the switches 118422 is closed to indicate the total number of fouls committed by the player who committed the last foul. At the same time, the appropriate one of the switches 115 and 116 may be actuated to illuminate the desired one of the bulbs 84 and 86. Inasmuch as the control assembly 98 is electrically connected to the remainder of the foul indicator by means of the flexible trunk line 96, the control assembly 98 may be positioned on the desk of the official scorer. Further, the housings 76 and 78 may also be positioned where desired.

Each of the cut-out portions 36, 3 8, 40, 42, t4 and 46 has a different colored translucent panel 126 disposed t-herebehind and the bulbs 50, 52 and 54 may be of different wattage such as 7 /2-watts, 40-watts and 25- watts, respectively, so as to render a clearer indication of the 'foul committed, the 7 /z-watt bulb 50 being utilized to merely dimly illuminate the cut-out portions 36 so as thereby eliminate excessive glare.

Although the housings "i6 and 78 have been illustrated as having only one bulb or illumination means disposed therein, a pair of illuminating means may be disposed in each of the housings '76 and 78 with a separate switch provided for each bulb so as to enable the cut-out portions and 82 to not only indicate the team which has a time-out but also whether or not the penalty will be a one plus one foul shot.

Thus, it may be seen that a portable foul indicator has herein been described and that the foul indicator will greatly facilitate both the oflicial and spectators at a basketball game.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A foul indicator for basketball games, said foul indicator comprising a housing enclosing a set of at least five vertically spaced compartments each including a plurality of sides in which light transmitting windows including indicia defining portions are disposed, single electrically actuatable illumination means disposed in each of said compartments, said housing including means adapting said housing to be supported in an elevated position from a support surface, said illumination means and the corresponding windows being adapted to indicate the total number of fouls which have been committed by a player each time a player commits a foul, electrical potential transmitting conductor means operatively connected with said illumination means, adapted for operative connection with a source of electrical potential and including switch means operatively connected thereto operative to individually and selectively electrically actuate said illumination means when said conductor means is operatively connected to a suitable source of electrical potential, said foul indicator also including a pair of separate housings supportable in desired orientated positions remote from the first mentioned housing and including electrically actuatable team indicating illumination means adapted to indicate the direction in which a corresponding team bench is located, said conductor means also including portions electrically connected to said team indicating illumination means and including further switch means operatively connected thereto for individually and selectively electrically actuating said team indicating illumination means.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said switch means are supported from a remote control assembly, said conductor means including flexible portions electrically connecting said switch means with said five illumination means and said team indicating illumination means.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said conductor means also includes flexible extension cord portions electrically connected to said switch means at one end and having plug means at the other end adapted for removable electrical connection with said source of electrical potential.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said housing also includes a sixth multi-sided illumination means spaced vertically relative to said five illumination means and adapted to indicate when a foul has been committed, said conductor means also including portions electrically connected to said sixth illumination means and further switch means operatively connected thereto for selectively electrically actuating said sixth illumination means.

5. A foul indicator for basketball games, said foul indicator comprising a housing enclosing a set of at least five vertically spaced compartments each including a plurality of sides in which light transmitting windows including indicia defining portions are disposed, single electrically actuatable illumination means disposed in each of said compartments, said housing including means adapting said housing to be supported in an elevated position from a support surface, said illumination means and the corresponding windows being .adapted to indicate the total number of fouls which have been committed by a player each time a player commits a foul, electrical potential transmitting conductor means operatively connected with said illumination means, adapted for operative connection with a source of electrical potential and including switch means operatively connected thereto operative to individually and selectively electrically actuate said illumination means when said conductor means is operatively connected to a suitable source of electrical potential, said housing also including a sixth multisided illumination means spaced vertically relative to said five illumination means and adapted to indicate when a foul has been committed, said conductor means also including portions electrically connected to said sixth illumination means and further switch means operatively connected thereto for selectively electrically actuating said sixth illumination means, said foul indicator also including a pair of separate housings supportable in desired positions remote from the first mentioned housing and including electrically actuatable team indicating illumination means adapted to indicate the direction in which a corresponding team bench is located, said conductor means also including portions electrically connected to said team indicating illumination means and including further switch means operatively connected thereto for individually and selectively electrically actuating said team indicating illumination means.

6. The combination of claim 1 including electrically actuatable audible signal means serially electrically con nected with one of said illumination means for simultaneous electrical actuation therewith.

7. A foul indicator for basketball games, said foul indicator including a vertically elongated multi-sided housing enclosing a set of at least five vertically spaced compartments each having electrically actuatable illumination means disposed therein and including a window opening in each side of said housing in which indicia defining portions are disposed, said housing including means adapting said housing to be hung in an upstanding position, said indicia being adapted to indicate a corresponding number of fouls which have been committed by a player, electrical potential transmitting conductor means operatively connected with said illumination means, adapted for operative connection to a source of electrical potential and including switch means operatively connected thereto operative to individually and selectively actuate the illumination means in said compartments when said conductor means is operatively connected to a suitable source of electrical potential, said foul indicator also including a pair of separate housings supportable in desired orientated positions remote from the first-mentioned housing and including electrically actuatable illumination means adapted to indicate the direction in which a corresponding team bench is located, said conductor meansalso including portions electrically connected to said team indicating illumination means and including further switch means operatively connected thereto for individually and selectively electrically actuating said team indicating illumination means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 655,264 8/ 1900 Nichol 340332 1,149,021 8/ 1915 Brylawski 340323 1,445,483 2/ 1923 Burke 340-321 1,507,728 9/ 1924 Burgard 340321 1,922,517 8/ 1933 Amory 340323 2,081,822 5/1937 Kimbell 340323 2,111,237 3/1938 Brack. 2,129,647 9/ 1938 Games 340323 X 2,375,393 5/ 1945 Story. 2,430,205 11/ 1947 Barry 340378 X 2,437,018 3/ 1948 Dodson 340378 X 2,480,504 8/1949 Ott 340378.1 2,814,796 ll/ 1957 Kozel 340263 3,039,775 6/ 1962 Mangano 340323 X NEIL C. READ, Primary Examiner.

R. GOLDMAN, I. I. LEVIN, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A FOUL INDICATOR FOR BASKETBALL GAMES, SAID FOUL INDICATOR COMPRISING A HOUSING ENCLOSING A SET OF AT LEAST FIVE VERTICALLY SPACED COMPARTMENTS EACH INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SIDES IN WHICH LIGHT TRANSMITTING WINDOWS INCLUDING INDICIA DEFINING PORTIONS ARE DISPOSED, SINGLE ELECTRICALLY ACTUATABLE ILLUMINATION MEANS DISPOSED IN EACH OF SAID COMPARTMENTS, SAID HOUSING INCLUDING MEANS ADAPTING SAID HOUSING TO BE SUPPORTED IN AN ELEVATED POSITION FROM A SUPPORT SURFACE, SAID ILLUMINATION MEANS AND THE CORRESPONDING WINDOWS BEING ADAPTED TO INDICATE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF FOULS WHICH HAVE BEEN COMMITTED BY A PLAYER EACH TIME A PLAYER COMMITS A FOUL, ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL TRANSMITTING CONDUCTOR MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID ILLUMINATION MEANS, ADAPTED FOR OPERATIVE CONNECTION WITH A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL AND INCLUDING SWITCH MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED THERETO OPERATIVE TO INDIVIDUALLY AND SELECTIVELY ELECTRICALLY ACTUATE SAID ILLUMINATION MEANS WHEN SAID CONDUCTOR MEANS IS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO A SUITABLE SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL, SAID FOUL INDICATOR ALSO INCLUDING A PAIR OF SEPARATE HOUSINGS SUPPORTABLE IN DESIRED ORIENTATED POSITIONS REMOTE FROM THE FIRST MENTIONED HOUSING AND INCLUDING ELECTRICALLY ACTUATABLE TEAM INDICATING ILLUMINATION MEANS ADAPTED TO INDICATE THE DIRECTION IN WHICH A CORRESPONDING TEAM BENCH IS LOCATED, SAID CONDUCTOR MEANS ALSO INCLUDING PORTIONS ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO SAID TEAM INDICATING ILLUMINATION MEANS AND INCLUDING FURTHER SWITCH MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED THERETO FOR INDIVIDUALLY AND SELECTIVELY ELECTRICALLY ACTUATING SAID TEAMS INDICATING ILLUMINATION MEANS. 